Line cleaner having rubber rollers to squeeze the line



G. R. HUNT March 8, 1955 LINE CLEANER HAVING RUBBER ROLLERS TO SQUEEZE THE LINE Filed 061.. 20, 1949 2 Shets-Sheet l March 8, 1955 R, -r 2,703,423

LINE CLEANER HAVING RUBBER RoLLERs TO SQUEEZE THE LINE Filed 001. 20, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @era/a 7?. Han z :rpresent in United States Pate "GeraldR. Hunt,'L0ngiBeach, Calif., assignor of one-half to .Cha'rlesiE. Munn, Long Beach, Calif.

ApplicationOctober '20, 1'949,"Serial No. 122,555

7 Claims. (Cl. 15-210) ,This invention hasto do'with a line cleaner and it is a zgeneral iobject of theinvention to provide a structure use- "ful and highly:e'tfective foriclea'ning a line or like element txnperatedina well, or the like.

:In carryingfout various operations in and about a well norrdeniickr'zaline orz like element is 'operatedin the well,

usually through the casing and into1the fluids or materials the well. When-su'cha line is withdrawn'from nthe wellrit/is dirty or carries withitmaterials from the swcllusu'chiastoil', mud,-'water,'retc. :Such'lines are usually '.operatednrapidlyrand' if the materials carried thereby are not removed they create-"not: only: annunsightly :and' most inconvenient:condition,:butaalso'a'hazard; in that such ma- :terialsibeconie w-idelydistributedzrhroughout the derrick wand-run isurrounding property.

Devices 'ihave'been: proposed land -used to eliminate ma- Zter-ial :fronr a line as. it is =withdrawnifrom a well, such =tlevieesacornmonly*beingin the nature-of wipers having relatively sifixed or stationary awiping elements .through or between which the line is-dragged. Since-the action 'mbtaine'd withsuch devices'is. adrag-ging action the line wengaging -.elements are subject .to being worn rapidly i andntwtearing and theiresults gained are rnot .always na-ltGgCthCISZtiSfBJGtOIY.

structure provided by this invention .is characrter-izedaby aypaircof .cooperatingirollersior cleaning elements, the rollers beingmounted so. that their. peripheries .;.join;.or abutlandltheline isenga-gedor passes between the rollers. As. the. l-inerismovedor. operated the rollers 1 mm orrrevolve and material carried by the line is cleaned itherefrornby'a squeezing action. rather than a merewlping I The structure involves. a case i that carries the cleaning fnrol-lersaandit is preferred-that the case belsectionahiin 1 swhichcase the-sections areahinged together aroun'dtheline .andvare secured in rengagementaround-the line by cam rlatcheseor'the like. -One roller .or cleaning-element 1s carried.inneachusection of the-case andwhenthe case is .closedaor assembled around'theline the rollersarein I proper cooperative engagement: withthe. line.

' .The invention, provides. for relative. movement and adjustment of the. rollers. and inoneform it mounts one roller on a fixed axis .while:the..other:roller is .on an axis that .rshiftsyinaahorizontalplane or laterallyofthe linev relative to theffirstimcntioned. or. fixed roller. .Means. are provided aadjustablyholding .the shiftableroller in .place and pref- ..erably'include. springsthaturge the 'shiftable roller toward 1 the shiftable roller in fixed position ifdesired.

iMounting .means .is provided .for .carrying a unit constrnctedas above described and preferably involvesa plate .withan ,openingpassing-Ytheline. and held by anchoring de- YiCCSiOI tiesthatmay beifastenedto the well head or to suitable derrick parts. A coupling element is.provided ion.the vplate..and the .casethat carries the rollers is secured .-to..the .plate, preferably by means of a coupling element .on:.,the casethatcooperates with the coupling elementon :theplate. TI he inventionprovides acoupling element. on

-:the..upper.end\of.'the case corresponding to\the coupling vtelement .on the vplate .so that aplurality of cases contween which the line is engaged which rollers operate to strip or. squeeze material carried by the line from the line and in which there-isno frictional-dragging action such as is ch-aracteristic'of ordinary wiping devices.

.Another'object of the invention is to provide a structure of the general character referredto'that is simple and easyto'opera'te; both to apply it to a line and to remove it therefrom.

ilt is afurther object of the invention :to'provide -.a line cleaner in which the elementsthat engage the line are such as to properly accommodatethe line and are such as to pass enlargcmentsior projections'on the line without -inany-way impairing the'construct-ion or action of the 1 device.

A further "object of the invention is to provide a simple, practical inexpensiveconstruction fora cleaning device, or the hke, whereby two .or more units of the structure can .be assembled in series relation to acton a common linerin order to gain the desired cleaning action. The various objects and 'features-of'my invention will befully understood from the-following detailed description ofatypicalrpreferred form and tapplicationof the enlarged vertical sectional view of the cleaner provided by the present. inventiona'showing, it :in operating position in connection with a line. Fig. 3 is a plan section taken .as indicated by.line-3-3 on Fig.-2. :Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view. takenzasindicated byline .44 on Fig-3. 'Fig.,5.is.a plan vsection taken asindicatedlby line '5-5 on .FigUZ. 'Fig. ,6 is an enlargeddetailedsectionalview taken .as indicatedlbylline 6-6.0nlFig. .2. Fig.7 isasidezele- :vation to'f istructurelembodyin g the present invention .showmg two llinemmts embodying the presentinvention coupled together, one.abovethe other .to .actin .series. I Fig. '8 vis an enlarged ..detailed sectional .view'taken as indicateidby line 8-8 on..Fig.l-7, and Fig. .9. is an'enlarged -.detailedplan section takenas indicated by line 99 on .The present-invention, provides a. line cleaner and it. is particularly ,practical. for .use.on aline, or-the like, .op- .erated in .a Welland in such caseitcan-ube employed ito advantagelimmediately.above a well casing or casing ihea'd. fInthe fdrawingsil illustratetypical well equipment including a derrick "A located over a wellcasing Bwhich ;is.equippedawith'a suitable head'C. Thederrick includes alinehandling hoi'stD that operates a line L over a sheave oncrownhlock'F so that'the line extends vertically from thetop of the derrick and into'the casing.

.Ais'i'inple application of thepresent invention includes a.-sing|le unit \orcleaner engaged with the line L and car- .riedl by a mounting G held lbytties H sothiat it is located a .suitabledistance, above the casing head C. The invention contemplates use of one or more cleaners 'or units embodying thepresent invention and Itherefiore, in :Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawingsgl :lshow a single unit cannied by .themounting 6 whereas inaFig. 7 I show (two units carried by the mounting G, the units being arranged one above theuother. The construction "of the several cleaner units is preferably alike and "therefore 'I will, proceed mo describe one unit in detail, it being understood that such description i3 equally applicable to as many units as may the empl'oye The mounting G by which the cleaner is held through the tiesmay be tfixed to or integral withtihe ca'se-otf the cleaner unit. However, it is preferably a separate element characterized by a horizontally disposed vplate .10 having a central vertical opening 1'1 which passes the line "L. 1The,pl'ate is preferably provided with a lateral opening aorpass-age '12 :which afiacilit ates engagement of the-plate with the line'L so that the line is located centrally in the o-pening'tl l.

The'plate =10 is carried :or anchored in the desired position by means of a plurality [of ties H shown as nods or rod like elements that extend downward [from the plate and are 'suitaiblyianchoredaals to the head C or me a part of the derrick. Inithe case illustrated there are three circumferentially spaced ties H and each tie is coupled to an ear '16 that projects from the plate. Each tie is enwith so that the line L passes through the plate centrally of the opening 1 1 therein.

Through the construction just described the plate '10 is releasably held by the ties H, so that an enlargement or part on the line that catches on the plate or which should be too large to pass through the opening i151, it moved upwardly into engagement with the plate as the line operates, will simply lift the plate away [from the ties, rather than causing injury of the structure. The detachable or releasable connections between the ties and the plate may, in practice, vary widely in torm and construction, the particular structure illustrated being merely for purpose of illustration.

The particular mounting plate I10 illustrated in the drawings further includes a coupling means 20 preferably at the upper side of the plate. In the particular case illustrated, the coupling means involves a neck 21 concentric with opening 11 and projecting upwardly trom the top side of the plate !10 and a head or enlargement 22 on the upper end of the neck. The neck 21 and head 22 are shown round in cross section and are concentric with the opening l l so that they are normally concentric with the line L. In the preferred form of the invention the plate 10 with the ears 116 thereon, as well as the neck 21 and the head '22 on the neck, are formed as a single unit or are integrally connected :as shown throughout the drawings.

The cleaner unit provided by the present invention and carried by the mounting G is shown as including,

generally, a case LI, enclosing a chamber cooperating cleaner elements in the form of rollers K, mounting means M and N mounting the rollers in the case, and various other features all of which will be hereinafiter described.

The case I, which is in elfe'ct a body, may vary widely in form and construction, it being preferred, however,

that it be a sectional element such that the sections can be shifted relative to each other to enable the cleaner to be engaged with or removed from the line L. -'In the preferred arrangement the case is formed in two sections and each carries one of the rollers K. in the particular case illustrated in the drawings the case is a ldrum shaped structure characterized by tiat parallel round or discshaped sides 25 and a curved or round outer wall -26 that connects the peripheral edges of the sides. Diametrically opposite line passing openings 2/7 are provided in the outer or curved wall 26 of the case, the openings 27 being made large enough to pass the line L with substantial clearance. In the case illustrated line guides or collar like parts 28 are provided in the case projecting inward [from the wall 26 and are arranged concentric with the openings '27 to provide adequate guide means for the line. It will be understood that in practice structures other than the simple lguide collars 28 and guide openings 27 may be provided to guide the line if desired.

The drum-like case I with the line passing openings 27 is arranged on the line so that one opening 27 at the bottom of the case while the other is at the top of the case, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. In accordance with the present invention the case is divided vertically and diametrically into two halves :or like sections X and Y Y. In the preferred form of the invention the case sections X and Y are pivotally connected together as by hinges 30 and they are normally secured together or in operating position by releasable latches 31. In the case illustrated there are vertically sp'aced hinges B involving lugs 33 projecting from one side 25 of the case and carrying vertical hinge pins 34.

One or more latches 3 1 occur at the opposite side 25 of the case and the latches are preferably cam-type devices which, when engaged, cinch or clamp the case sections tightly together. In the particular case illustrated each latch 31 involves a body 36 pivotally mounted on one case section by I3. pivot pin 37 and having a cam socket 38 receiving a lug or pin '39 that projects from the other case section. It will be apparent that by suitably shaping the cam opening or socket 38 in the body 36 the desired clamping or cam action can be gained. A suitable handle 4 40 may be provided on the latch body 86 to hacilitate convenient operation thereof. By providing two latches 31 on the case and by locating them one above the other, as shown in Fig. 7, the body sections are dependably and securely maintained in the desired closed or assembled position around the line L.

The rollers K are preferably formed of rubber, or the like, and as shown in the drawings each roller is of srmple form and construction and is characterized by a flat axially disposed periphery 4-1. In the case illustrated the rollers have fiat ends 42 and they are located in the case I so that one roller is carried in each case section, the rollers being carried by the mounting means M and N so that their peripheries W1 abut or are in suitable pressure engagement centrally of the structure and so that the line L is completely engaged or embraced by the cooperating rollers. In practice the rollers may be formed of rubber or rubber like material sufiioiently soft or deformable so that the peripheries 41 of the rollers may be plain and straight and are simply deformed by the presence of the line between the rollers. ln the particul-ar case illustrated, however, line receiving channels or grooves 45 are provided in the rollers and cooperate to define an opening between the rollers that tightly or snugly passes the line.

The mounting means M carries one of the rollers in casing section Y and in the form of the invention illustrated it is such as to mount the roller in section Y on a fixed axis. In the case illustrated the mounting means M is characterized by a mounting pin of shaft horizontally disposed in the case I and having its ends supported in the sides 25. The particular shaft illustrated has a polygonal end 51 engaged in'a polygonal opening 52 in one side 25 and the shaft is engaged in a bore or round opening 53 in the other side 25. A retainer 54 is secured to the last mentioned side 25 to hold the shaft in place as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

In practice suitable bearing means is provided between the roller and the shaft 50. In the case illustrated a liner 56 is tight in the roller, in fact, it may be bonded to the roller, and suitable bearing bushings 57 are engaged in the liner from each end and are tight therein. The bushings 57 rotate freely on the shaft 50. The bushings 57 are shown with end flanges 58 which engage the inner faces of the sides 25 so that the roller is suitably spaced from the sides and is maintained in the case against axial movement or shifting therein.

The mounting means N mounts the other roller in the section X of the case and in the case illustrated it involves a liner 56 tight in or bonded to the roller and bushings 57 tight in the liner and corresponding to the bushings of means M. A cross bar 60 extends through case section X and is carried in horizontal guideways 61 in the sides 25 of section X so that the bar shifts longitudinally relative to the roller carried by means M and has end portions 62 projecting outward from or beyond the sides 25. A collar 63 on the bar 60 has a round exterior rotatably supporting the bushings 57. In the particular case illustrated the bar 60 is polygonal, preferably square, in cross sectional configuration and the collar 63 has an opening 68 slidably passing the bar.

The present invention provides means supporting the collar K in casing section X so that it is bodily shift/able laterally or in a horizontal direction relative to the roller in casing section Y. The means provided by the invention is adjustable and preferably supports the roller in section X so that it is cushioned or is yieldingly held in position to cooperate with the roller in section Y. In the particular case illustrated in the drawings the roller in casing section X is supported in the desired manner through structure engaged with the ends or heads 62 of the bar 60.

In the drawings I show lugs 70 projecting from the sides 25 of a casing section X and compression spring: 71 operate between the lugs 70 and the heads 62 of the bar 60. Adjustable stops 72 are carried by the lugs 70, being preferably threaded thereto, and the springs 71, which are preferably helical springs, act between the stops 72 and the heads 62. Each stop is shown provided with a polygonal part 75 that can be conveniently engaged by a wrench or the like. It will be apparent from Fig. 3 of the drawings how the stops 72 can be adjusted to vary the pressure with which the springs 70 urge the roller supporting bar 60 toward the center of themeture in order to hold the roller which is carried by the Lthedesiredmannenrelativertotitherollers ingsectron positive -stopmeans may .be provided I supportbar can bemoved against the resistance of thesprings 71.

ZInIthe' particular 'form of the invention illustrated, suit- .able-washers'72 are engaged on rt-he -;set screwsuSD to roccur between the spr'ing71and .th,e .stop 72..and-.le'stab- Flish a -suitable seatfor "the spring.

.lThrongh the construction'just described member or Jabber-like: material employed Jan the rollers may be such'jas' .to -pass any'parts orrelement .on theglinellpand iikely-utoiberoperate'd through thetcleaher or.-,-the -.'str-ucturecan'be set'so that the 'spiings' 70 yieldingly support the roller in section X so that an enlargement or object on the line is passed by cooperation or yielding of the rollers and also by lateral shifting of the roller in section X of the casing. It will be apparent that through the construction provided an object on the line which is of substantial size will engage the mounting plate and cause the plate to be disengaged from the ties H so that the entire cleaner is lifted with the line. When objects are small enough to pass through the plate 10 the structure provided as above described is such as to allow such parts to readily pass through the cleaner either by flexure or deformation of the rollers or by lateral shifting of the roller in casing section X or both.

In accordance with the broader principles of the invention any suitable means may be provided for coupling or fastening the cleaner as above described to the mounting G. In the preferred form of the invention a releasable coupling means is provided and is such that when the casing sections X and Y are latched together or are in operating position around the line L the casing is efiectively and dependably coupled to the mounting G.

In the particular construction illustrated, where the coupling means on the plate 10 is constructed as above described, a depending collar 90 is provided on the lower portion of casing J. The collar 90 has a socket 91 which receives the enlargement or head 21 on neck 22 and it has a restricted opening 92 which passes the neck 91. It will be apparent from Fig. 2 of the drawings how the collar 90, being located centrally at the bottom of the case I is divided with the case and is therefore in two sections which assemble around the structure on the plate 10. When the parts are engaged, as shown in Fig. 2, the case 10 is effectively secured on the plate with the line passing and handling parts of the cleaner in proper aligned relation to the line L.

In accordance with the present invention I preferably provide a coupling means 95 at the top of the case I and I from such coupling means the same as, or to correspond with, the coupling means 20 on the plate 10. As shown in the drawings, the coupling means 95 involves an up wardly projecting neck 96 carrying an enlargement or head 97. The neck 96 corresponds in size and shape with the neck 21 and the head 97 corresponds in size and shape with the head 22. Through this construction one case I can be arranged above another and coupled thereto, as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings, and in practice as many cases can be coupled together in series along the line L as circumstances require. When cases I are thus coupled together it may be desired to secure or lock them against relative rotation. For this purpose I provide a stop screw 98 on the depending collar 90 of each case, which stop screw may be operated to enter a notch or opening 99 in the head engaged in the collar.

The cleaning elements or rollers employed in carrying out the invention may, in practice, be rubber or rubber-like material so that they are resilient and deformable to accommodate the line and are such as to conform to the contour thereof and to pass projections or objects on the line that may be operated through the structure. When I employ the term rubber in the claims I mean to include not only rubber, but any rubber-like material or composition. Further, it will be apparent that the structure may be used to clean an element other than a line, for instance, it may be used to clear a rod, and in Fig. 7 of the drawings I illustrate a rod R engaged through gliilg or'lhold-ing the bar i60 ,so that. it. is .,pos'itively}heldiin .posrtiofitelative to .the roller in section Y. In 'Jithe case t6 two' assembled cleaners and I 'show-'a=projeetionor'rconplitlg on the rod such.as.will readily;pass."throtigh"the "cleaners. 'In'thefblloWing claimswhenI ref-erito'a e 'ori-to afline ;cleanerf'I-reier'to a cleaner that willpperate on not only a line but also .on other like 1501' equ va n 7 .elements,"asfor example, on'rods, etc. i I Having describedonly 'a typical preferred "'form and application"of myinvention, I-do*notwishto beilimited 'or 'restricted .to lithe specific details "herein :set for'thfibut w' isl 1 to reserve to myself any 'var'iations or'modifications *tha'tmayaappear to tlrose' skilled in "the artand 'fall within the scope of the"following-claims.

Having described by. invention, I claim:

I-l. 2A wellline' cleaner including, "two-releasably mov- "ajble casing-sections *aclaptedi-"to beengagdarouridgailine,

the sections havin'g upper and lower fportions with regis- 1 tering opposed" recesses therein-fdefining upper *aridflow'er "vertically aligned openings adaptedtoypas's thef lrirgi a her in 'onecasing -sectionzto rotate: on a=fixec1-airigranm ans 'supportingthe"othei-roller inthe. other casingsectiomon an axis parallel with and spaced from that of the first mentioned roller and shiftable laterally thereof, means at the exterior of the casing normally yieldingly urging the shiftable roller toward the first mentioned roller, the rollers having their peripheries engaged and adapted to engage the line tight between them where they are engaged.

2. A well line cleaner including, two relatively movable casing sections adapted to be engaged together around a r'ruhber'ro'ller ineach section,--means supporting on line and each having spaced side walls, the sections having upper and lower portions with registering opposed recesses therein defining upper and lower vertically aligned openings adapted to pass the line, two rubber rollers, means mounting one roller on a fixed axis in one casing section, and means mounting the other roller in the other casing section to shift relative to the first mentioned roller including, a bar carried in guideways in the side walls of said other casing section, means rotatably sup porting the said other roller on the bar, and spring means normally yieldingly urging the bar toward the first mentioned roller holding the rollers with their peripheries adopted to be engaged with the line between them including, a compression spring and an adjustable abutment engaged by the spring.

3. A well line cleaner including, two relatively movable casing sections adapted to be engaged together around a line, the sections having upper and lower portions with registering opposed recesses therein defining upper and lower vertically aligned openings adapted to pass the line, two rubber rollers, means mounting one roller on a fixed axis in one casing section, means mounting the other roller in the other casing section to shift relative to the first mentioned roller including, a bar carried in guideways in said other casing section, means rotatably supporting the said other roller on the bar, and spring means normally yieldingly urging the bar toward the first mentioned roller and adapted to hold the rollers with the peripheries engaged with the line between them, and stop means engageable with the bar to hold it against movement away from the first mentioned roller including a stop member adjustably carried by one of the casing sections.

4. A well line cleaner including, a base having a vertical opening adapted to pass a line and having an upwardly projecting headed projection thereon, and a unit including a case having hinged sections with parts at its lower end gripping the projection when the case is closed and defining an opening adapted to pass the line, latch means holding the case closed, and line engaging rubber rollers carried in the case, the case having an upwardly extending headed projection at its upper end corresponding to the projection on the base.

5. A well line cleaner including, a base having a vertical opening adapted to pass a line and having an upwardly projecting headed projection thereon, a unit includinga case having hinged sections with depending parts gripping the projection when the case is closed and defining an opening adapted to pass the line, latch means holding the case closed, and line engaging rubber rollers carried in the case, the case having an upwardly extending headed projection at its upper end corresponding to the projection on the base, and a second unit including a case having hinged sections with depending parts gripping the projection on the case of the first mentioned unit when closed, latch means holding the second named case losed and line engaging rubber rollerscarried in the secopening in the lower portion thereof, a pair of engaged rubber rollers with annular registering grooves adapted to receive and embrace the line, means mounting one of the rollers 1n the case on a fixed ax s and means mountmg the other roller 1n the case to Shift relative to the first ,mentioned'roller and means normally yieldingly holding said other roller in pressure engagement with the first mentioned roller.

7.A; well line cleaner including, two relatively mov- T able casing sections adapted to be engaged around a line .,and having spaced sides defining a chamber, the sections having registering recesses forming vertically aligned openings at the top and bottom of the chamber and Qadapted to pass the line, a rubber roller in each section,

means supporting one roller in one casing section to rotate on a fixed axis, and a member extending between 'the sides of=the other casing section and supporting the other roller in said other casing section on an axis parallel with and spaced from that of the first mentioned where they are engaged. 5

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 297,260 Heim Apr." 22, 1884 741,911 Kirby Oct. 20, 1903 1,680,068 Sadler Aug. 7, 1928 1,716,229 Immel etal. June 4, 1929 1,815,238- Cherry July 21, 1931 1,896,415 Pyles Feb. 7, 1933 2,223,860 Schellenberg Dec. 3, 1940 2,424,046 Moore et a1 July 15, 1947 Lewis Aug. 28, 1951 

